Electric contact



` (No Model.)

C. C. DUSENBURY.

ELECTRIC CONTACT. NO.- 582,464. Patented May l1, 1897.

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UNITED STATES ATENT @einen CALEB GOLES DUSENBURY, OF LAKE MAHOPAG, NFV YORK.

ELECTFHG @@NTACT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Fatent No. 582,464, dated May l1, 1897.

Application tiled February S, 1897. Serial No. (322,504:A (No model.l

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, @Anne Conns D'UsnN- BURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Mahopac, in the county oi Putnam and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Contacts, oi' which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to a device adapted to make or break au electric circuit at pleasure, the same performing a similar function to that of a switch.

ln carrying out rny invention l employ a block of metal in which there isau opening receiving an insulating-bushing, et rubber or other similar material, and at right angles to the opening through the insulating-bushiug and passing through the block of metal and bushing is a thumb-screw. The end of one circuit-wire is secured to the block of metal and the end oi the other circuit-wire is received in the bushing of rubber or other insulating material. The electric circuit is not established between the wires through the block of metal until the thumb-screw is turned down with its end into contact with the wire within the bushing of rubber, the circuit being broken immediately upon loosening` the thumb-screw. I prefer to make this block of metal in the form of an ordinary bindingpost, and the thumb-screw of the same may be provided with a head of insulating` material to be grasped by the fingers, or if the thumb-screw is of metal the saine may be grasped and turned by an insulated instrunient.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view, representing the simpler form of my invention. Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section and elevation representing my invention in the form of an ordinary binding-post, and Fig. i is an elevation at right angles to the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

The block of metal is represented at a. The same is provided with an opening in which is inserted a bushing b, of rubber or other insulating` material, closed at its inner end and having an opening therethrough and at right angles to the opening in the bushing for the stem of the thumb-screw c. The naked end ot the circuit-wire d is received in this insulating-bushing I) and is presumed to rest loosely therein. The naked end of the circuit-wire d' is to be secured to the block of metal e. in Fig. l l have shown the end et this circuit-wire as received in an opening in the block of metal and as clamped in place thereto by a thumb-screw c'.

in the position ot' the parts, Figs. i and 2, the electric current will pass through the block i and thumb-screw c, completing the circuit between the wires (Z t?, because the thumb-screw c is turned down with its end in contact with the wire d within the bushing b. The metallic Contact thus formed between the wire in the bushing and the metal block through the metal thumb-screw for the passage of the electric current is broken when the thumb-screw is turned in the reverse direction and its point removed from the wire and without the bushing.

In Figs. and t the block of metal is shown in the form oi' an ordinary binding-post Ct', secured by a screw-stein and nut to a foundation c, of any ordinary character. In this instance the wire d is twisted around the stein of thebinding-postand clamped in place by the operation of the screw-stem and nut. The bushing b', ot rubber or other suitable insulating material, passes through the upper part of the binding-post and is secured thereto and provided with an opening therethrough at right angles to the opening of the bushing for the threaded stem ot the thumb-screw c', the end of the wire (l in these iiguresV being shown as through the bushing of rubber with the thumb-screw turned down in contact therewith to establish the electric circuit between the two wires through the thumb-screw and binding-post. in this instance, as in the former, the loosening of the thumb-screw by turning the same in the opposite direction moves the point away from the naked wire d and breaks the electric current between the wires.

In order to prevent shock to the hand of he person operating the thumb-screw to make or break the electric current, the head of the thumb-screw may be covered with rubber or made in part ot' rubber, so as to be insulated, or the thumb-screw may be turned by an insulated instrument of any desired character.

I claim as my invention- IOO into metallic contact with the wire Within the bushing;` and make the circuit or to move away therefrom and break the circuit, substantialiy as set forth.

2. An electric contact comprising a metal binding-post or block of metal and means for securing the same to a support and to which one end of one electric circuit-Wire is secured,

said binding-post having' an opening' therethrough, a bushing of rubber or other insulating,` material secured within said Opening` and receiving` the end of another electric cir cuit-wire, a thumb-screw passing` into said binding-post and through au opening in said bushing, the rotation of which screw causes the point to come into metallic contact with the wire Within the bushing` to make the eircuit or to move away therefrom and break the circuit, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 30th day of January, A. D. 1807.

C. GOLES DUSENBURY. lVitnesses:

GEO. T. P iNcKNEv, S. T. HMILAND. 

